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This article is about the autonomous region; for the city see Nakhichevan (city)

Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası
Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic

Azerbaijan Flag Nakhichevan Seperatist Flag (In Detail) (In Detail)
National motto: none
Official language	Azerbaijani
Capital	Nakhichevan (city)
Head of State	Ilham Aliyev
Parliamentary Chairman	Vagif Talybov
Area  - Total  - % water	5,500 km² negligible
Population  - Total	365,000+
Establishment  - Declared  - Recognition	1991 recognized internationally only as part of Azerbaijan
Currency	Azerbaijani Manat
Time zone  - in summer	EET (UTC+4) EEST (UTC+5)
National anthem	none (uses National Anthem of Azerbaijan)
Internet TLD	.az
Calling Code	+994

The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijani: Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası) is an exclave of Azerbaijan. The 5,500 km² region borders Armenia (221 km), Turkey (9 km) and Iran (179 km) and consists of 6 rayons: Babak, Julfa, Ordubad, Sadarak, Shahbuz and Sharur. The main city is Nakhichevan, home to the Nakhichevan State University.

Climate and Resources

Nakhichevan is extremely arid and mountainous and contains large salt deposits. Major industries in the region include: the mining of minerals such as salt, molybdenum, and lead, cotton ginning/cleaning, silk spinning, fruit canning, meat packing, tobacco producing, growing of grain and market garden produce, and, in the dryer regions, sheep farming. The Republic contains very basic facilities and lacks heating fuel during the winter.

History

The city of Nakhichevan was first mentioned in Ptolemy's "Geography" as Naksuana and was said to be established in 4400 BCE. Naksuana is ancient Greek for "the land of sweet water". Since it frequently changed empires, sultanates, and khanates, the name of Nakhichevan was altered many times, changing to: Nakshijahan, Nuhchikhan (the place where Noah landed), Nesheva and etc. Throughout history Nakhichevan land brought up prominent persons such as Hindushah ibn Nakhchivani, Abdurrakhman en Neshevi, Ekmouladdin Nakhchivani, Ejemi Nakhchivani, Generals Ehsan, Kelbali, Ismail, Hussein, Jamshid khan Nakhichevanski and others.

The oldest material culture artifacts found in Nakhichevan date back to the Neolithic Age. The region was part of the states of Mannae and Media in 8 – 7 BCE, Achaemenid state in 6 BCE, and later became part of the state of Atropatene. In 3 century Nakhichevan was conquered by Persia, in 623 by Byzantium, and in the middle 7th century by Arabs. In 8th century this area was the arena of Babak uprising. Nakhichevan was part of feudal states of Sajids and Salarids in 9 – 10 century, and fell under control of Seljuks in 11th century.

In 12th century the city of Nakhichevan became the capital of the Ildegezid state. The magnificent 12th century mausoleum of Momine khatun, the wife of Ildegizid ruler Jahan Pehlevan, is the main attraction of modern Nakhichevan. In 13 – 14 centuries the region was invaded by mongols and Tamerlane. In the 15th century, the territory of Nakhichevan became part of the states of Kara Koyunlu and Ak Koyunlu. In the 16th century control of the region passed to the Safavid dynasty of Persia. Because of its geographic position, it frequently suffered during the wars between Persia and the Ottoman Empire in 14th – 18th centuries. The Nakhichevan khanate emerged in the region in 1747 after the death of Nadir Shah Afshar, the ruler of Persia. After the two Russo-Iranian wars and the Treaty of Turkmenchay, Nakhichevan khanate passed into Russian possession in 1828. Nakhichevan khanate was dissolved in 1840, and the area became Nakhichevan uyezd of Erivan governorate of the Russian Empire.

After the February Revolution the region was under the authority of Special Transcaucasian Committee of the Russian Provisional Government. In 1918 Musavat Party proclaimed in Nakhichevan the Republic of Araks. In late 1918 Nakhichevan was occupied by British troops. After withdrawal of British troops Nakhichevan was occupied by 11th Red Army troops and Soviet Socialist Republic of Nakhichevan was proclaimed on 28 July 1920. On 9 February 1924 Nakhichevan Soviet Socialist Autonomous Republic within the Azerbaijan SSR was formed. In January 1990 Nakhichevan declared independence from USSR to protest suppression of national movement in Azerbaijan, and became Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic within newly independent Republic of Azerbaijan a year later. It now exists and is internationally recognized as a part of Azerbaijan governed by its own elected parliament.

Geography

Nakhichevan is an atmospheric, semi-desert region that is separated from the main portion of Azerbaijan by Armenia. A range of arid mountains make up the border with Armenia and Iran.

Demographics

As of 1990, Nakhichevan's population was estimated to be 350,000. 98% of the population are Azeri. Ethnic Russians constituted the remaining population.

Disputes

• Nakhichevan has been under blockade by Armenia since 1989. The primary routes to mainland Azerbaijan is via the international air corridor through Armenia and through the Eastern Azerbaijan province of Iran, which has become unaffordable due to high taxes imposed by the Iranian government.

• Armenia has occupied the village of Karki within the republic since 1989.

• Nakhichevan issued a declaration in the late 1990's recognizing the sovereignty of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and calling upon Azerbaijan to do so. While sympathetic to the TRNC, Azerbaijan has not followed suit because of Greek Cypriot threats to recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Armenian-occupied Azeri territory).

External links

• Official website of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic

• Nakhchivan State University

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• Geography of Azerbaijan
• Exclaves
• Caucasus
• Subdivisions of Azerbaijan